Hi all. I have heard the term "salon dreads" used on this site a few times, and I got the feeling that it was if not derrogatory, it was close, and looked down on. I am the first to say that I got mine started in a "salon" by a woman with dreads. My hair will not naturally curl and knot up w/o help (backcombing). I had no friends available to do mine and I couldn't start them myself. It turns out neithr one of us knew that she used waaay too much wax, but eventually it melted out and they felt a lot better. I didn't have a choice really. How many of you had friends start yours? I am guessing at least half didn't do it themselves. I am not sure what people mean when they say "salon dreads" but to me, it shouldn't be derrogatory. I got them started there but I didn't get a perm. I guess if you get a dread perm it's cheating, who knows. She did a lot of backcominb, and I have done all the work since then. About dreads being the easiest upkeep? Not in my case. The way I want them too lok (clean, wel-defined) takes me quite a while. Maybe when I move I will find a dread friend and he or she can help me comb. I just wanted to say that I see nothing wrong with going and getting your dreads started, as most people get their dreads started by a friend anyway. P.S. Any tips of keeping your hair from going crazy when you sleep? I have tried stocking but don't like anything tight on my head. (Headaches for most of my life, and this doesn't help)
The first time I tried dreads, I had a friend help me but we used wax and backcombed and they didn't turn out very good so I got them cut. However, this time I am doing dreads, I did them all myself (my boyfriend touched one, that was the extent of his help). I am letting them dread naturally this time and understand a lot more about them than I did the first time. Peace & Love
I think a lot of people look down on "salon dreads" because #1, they usually cost a shitload to do, and #2, they usually come out looking very...waxed and just not what most people probably want their dreads to look like. All that wax and shit in there doesn't help with the dreading process and a lot of times, salon dreads end up coming out anyway. But if that's what you enjoy, you do whatever makes you happy. If you like how they look, then good. I think dreads are the easiest upkeep, but that's my own opinion. Actually...probably a shaved head would be the easiest...haha. Just so you know, you really shouldn't be backcombing your dreads over and over again. You said you want to find a friend to help you comb, but really all that will do is fuck up your dreads and make them come apart. Once they're started, they're going to do their own thing and hopefully knot up really tightly...so tightly that a comb isn't going to get through them. But why would you want one to anyway? I really don't think there's any way to keep your hair from "going crazy" when you sleep. I mean, sometimes I wear a tam or just a hat but if you're going for that neat look then maybe that's not for you. I've had my dreads for two years and by now, they're looking the same when I wake up as when I go to bed at night...haha. Well, I hope you enjoy your dreads and don't drive yourself too nuts trying to make them perfect. My advice is to let them do their own thing. They're going to, anyway...
I stopped using wax due to this site. I am looking into gel of some sort just to make them look neater. don't backcomb often ebcause it is such a pain in the ass, I just don't want them growing together in a big clump. And I need to re-tease my hair at the ends because it is so straight. My dreads only cost $50 dollars to start. The main point of this thread was that so many different kinds of dreads here, and I don't think it's right to look down on someone because they didn't have any friends available to help them out but they still wanted dreads.
i did every single last one of my own dreads (when i had them) it took me amonth.. but any one with arms can do them
Sometimes I see people with really neat looking uniform locks and I'm like, "I wish my hair was that nice" My hair is all raggedy and bumpy. My boyfriend always says that they prolly got em in a salon. My locks are only a lil over a year old and will smooth out with time. I think the problems that people have with salon dreads are that they cost alot as someone already said and dreads are supposed to be natural. If ya get em done in a salon they're not natural. I, personally, find my hair upkeep pretty easy. I don't do anything. Everyone has different reasons and methods. Just like everyone is different. Different is good.
gel has exactly the same problems as wax does, its just less solid.... just informing you there also people who go to salons quite often want instant effects, and i know MANY salond dreadsters who look down on NATURAL dreads because they look scruffy and arent "real dreads" i dont look down on salon dreads, some very good friends of muine have salon dreads. biut from my experiance salon dreads all end up looking after a few years very very thin and weak at the root. Also i did my dreads all by myself completely. ALSO re teasing your ends will just cause breakage. ive head my dreads 2 years and some of the ends are perfectly straight coming out of super phatt dreads (like tails) but some of them have dreaded up on their own. Your ends neesd to be loose so as the hair can move and knott thats why bands are so bad.
My mom did mine for me As for upkeep: You can try palm rolling a lot, sewing and crocheting to keep them looking neat and such.
a few years ago my folks moved from oregon to chicago, and when I went out there to visit them once my mom was all exited to go to the hairdresser with me because "I saw a sign at this salon that says they SPECIALIZE in dreadlocks!" lol... it took me the longest time to explain that there was nothing to do with my dreads anymore... aside from the occasional fluff I've had mine for 5 years or so... My hair dreaded VERY quickly and VERY naturally, but I just have that kind of hair.. All I did was rip them apart occasionally as they grew, but I even gave up on that after a while. I say the same as many others... just let yer dreads do their own thing for a while and they'll be beautiful!
